Production of polyhalo-alkanes



Patented Sept. 6, 1949 PRODUCTION OF POLYHALO-ALKANES Louis Schmerling, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application August 30, 1945, Serial No. 613,707

22 Claims. 1

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 465,097 filed November 9, 1942, and of my copending application Serial No. 496,792 filed July 30, 1943, as a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 465,097, both of which applications are now abandoned.

This invention relates to the condensation of a monohalo-alkane containing at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and a halogen of at least 35 I An object of this invention is to produce a halo-alkane containing at least 2 hagolen atoms per molecule.

Another object of this invention is to produce a dihalo -alkane by condensing a monohalo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and a monohalomono-olefin, the halogen present in each of the starting materials having an atomic weight of at least 35.

Still another object of this invention is the production of a dichloro-alkane by condensing a monochloro-mono-olefin and a monochloro-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule.

A further object of this invention is to condense a monohalo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and a polyhalomonoolefin to form a polyhalo-alkane containing per molecule the total number of halogen atoms present in a molecule of each of said monohalo-alkane and said polyhalomono-olefin in each of which the halogen has an atomic weight of at least 35.

A still further object of this invention is the production of a trichloro-alkane by the condensation of a monochloro-alkane and a dichloroalkene in the presence of a catalyst of the Friedel- Crafts type.

One specific embodiment of the present invention relates to a process which comprises condensing a monohalo-alkane containing at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and a halogen of an atomic weight of at least 35 with a halomonoolefin also containing a halogen of atomic weight of at least 35 in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

Another embodiment of this invention relates to a process which comprises condensing a monohalo-alkane containing at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and a halogen of an atomic weight of at least 35 with a halomono-olefin also containing a halogen of atomic weight of at least ride.

35 in the presence of a compound of aluminum and a middle halogen, thus including aluminum chloride and aluminum bromide.

Monohalo-alkanes also known as alkyl halides which are employed as starting material in the present process may be produced by the addition of a hydrogen halide to monoolefinic hydrocarbons. J This addition reaction of hydrogen halide to an olefin may be effected in the presence of a catalyst such as a Friedel-Crafts type metal halide, an acid such as sulfuric acid or an acid of phosphorus, etc. Such an addition of hydrogen halide to an olefin results in the production of secondary alkyl halides from normal olefins and other non-tertiary olefins containing 3 or more carbon atoms per molecule and in the formation of teriary alkyl'halides from tertiary olefins such as isobutylene, trimethyl ethylene, etc. Primar alkyl halides also utilizable in the present process for producing polyhalo-alkanes are obtainable by other means such as the treatment of a primary alcohol having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule with a hydrogen halide in the presence of a suitable catalyst such as zinc chlo- Secondary and tertiary alcohols also re actwith hydrogen halides to produce alkyl halides. Primary alkyl bromides may be obtained from a l-alkene, also known as an alpha-olefin, by addition of hydrogen bromide to the l-alkene in the presence of organic peroxides.

I prefer to condense alky1 chlorides and alkyl bromides having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule with halomonoolefins, although alkyl iodides are also utilizable but not necessarily under exactly the same conditions of operation.

Halomono-olefins which are condensed with the aforementioned alkyl halides or monohaloalkanes according to the process of this invention contain one double bond and at least one halogen atom per molecule. The halogens present in both the halomono-olefins and monohaloalkanes have atomic weights of at least 35, thus including the middle halogens chlorine and bromine, and also iodine which is the halogen of highest atomic weight. Monoha1omonoolefins utilizable in the present process comprise monohalo-ethenes, -propenes, -butenes, -pentenes, and higher halo-alkenes. Vinyl chloride, allyl chloride, allyl bromide, propenyl chloride, and isopropenyl chloride are representative of haloolefins containing one halogen atom and one dou ble bond per molecule and suitable for use in the present process.

Polyhalomono-olefins which are condensed with monohalo-alkanes according to my process include 1,2 dichloroethylene, 1,2 dichloropropene-l, 1,2-dichloropropene-2, and trichloroethylene.

Halo-olefins may be formed in any suitable manner such as by the action of a halogen upon 3 an olefin at a temperature at which substitution occurs and substantially in excess of that at which addition or a halogen to the o'le'finic double bond is the principal reaction. Monohaloolefines may also be prepared by the addition of a halogen to an olefin to form a dihalo-alkane from which one molecule of hydrogen halide may be removed by any of several well known methods to produce a halo-olefin. Furthermore, halo-olefins may be prepared by addition of hydrogen halide to acetylenes. Polyhaloolefins may be prepared by the addition of halo gen to acetylenes.

Suitable catalysts for the process of the present invention comprise metal halides of the Friedel- Crafts type and particularly substantially anhydrous compounds of aluminum with a middle halogen thus including aluminum chloride and aluminum bromide.- Ferric chloride, bismuth chloride, zinc chloride, zirconium chloride; and titanium chloride are also utilizable as catalysts for the condensation of monohalo-alkanes with halomono-oleflns. The conditions of operation utilizable with the different Friedel-Crafts type metal halides or with metal halide mixtures may be ,different depending upon catalyst activities and other factors. These different catalytic materials which may be employed are utiliz'able as such, composited with one another, dissolved in a suita-ble solvent such asa nitro-paraifin or an ether, or deposited on solid carriers or support: ing materials to produce catalyst composites of desired activities, They may also be employed in the form of complexes with organic compounds; for exam le AlCl3. CI-I3OH.

Suitable catalyst carriers 01" supports include both adsorptive and substantially non-'adsorptive materials, for example, alumina, activated charcoal, crushed porcelain, raw and 'aci'd treated clays, diatomaceous earth, pumice, firebrick, etc. The carriers should be substantially inert in the sense that substantially no interaction which is detrimental to the activity or selectivity of the catalyst composite occurs between the carrier and the metal halide. v

Although the process of the present invention is not understood completely, it appears to invalve the addition to a halomono olefin of an alkyl halide containing at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule, the halogen of said alkyl halide and halomono-olefin having an atomic weight of at least 35. Thus, the reaetion' of such a mono halo-alkane with such a nionohalombnomlefin produces a dihalo-alkane with 'a molecular weight equal to the sum of the molecular weights of the two reactants. For example, the condensation of tertiary butyl fchlo'ride withvinyl chloride produces 1,1-dichloro-3,3 dimethylbutane, which is a dichloroneohexane. This reaction is illushated by the following equation:

The dichlorohexane indicated in the preceding equation may be minvertd into neohexa'ne; tertiary butylacetaldehyde, or othe'r desirable compounds. The process of this inventioh thus teaches a simple method for preparing a compound containing a quaternary carbon atom. A dichlorohexane of the type indicated ab'cive may also be converted into a chlorohexene by removal of a molecular proportion of hydrogen chloride,

The condensation "of a tertiary lnonohal'oalkane with a monohalomono-oleiin having a vinyl group may be expressed by the following equation:

wherein X represents a halogen atom with an atomic weight of at least 35, R represents an alkyl group, and R R R and R represent hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups. The resultant dihalo-alkanes may be referred to as X, X-dih al o+(X+2)' (X-+2) -di- (alkyl) -a1kanes wherein X is an integer. Thus, when X is l, the dihaloalkane is a 1,1-dihalo-3,3-di-(alkyl)-alkane as l,l-dichloro-3,3-dimethylbutane. When X is 2, the dihaloalkane is a 2, 2-dihalo-4A-di-(alkyl)- allgane as 2,2-dichloro-4,4-dimethylpentane or 2,2 dichloro-4,4-diinethylhexane.

Also, I have found that cis-dichloroethylene may be made to react with tertiary butyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride to obtain a trichlorohexane, namely 1,1,2-trichloro- 3,3-dimethylbutane. This condensation reaction is illustrated by the following equation:

The production of polyhalo-alkanes as herein set forth is carried out by reacting an alkyl halide and a polyhalo-ole'fin in the presence of a catalyst of the Friedel-Crafts type at a temperature of from about 40 to about 100 0., generally while maintainihg the reaction mixture at a pressure sumcie'nt to keep a substantial portion thereof in the liquid state. The reactions of dilferent alkyl halides or monohalo-alkane's with different halomono-olefins are not necessarily carried out with equal ease or under the same conditions of operation. When employing aluminum chloride as catalyst, the lower operating temperatures within the above-indicated limits ar generally preferred since this metal halide has a relatively high activity, particularly in the presence of a hydrogen halide, such as hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide, sometimes used simultaneously with a Friedel-Crafts type metal halide. Ferric chloride, and zirconium chloride are generally utilized at somewhat higher temperatures (about 10 to about 40 C.) than that employed when aluminum chloride is the essential active ingredient of the catalyst. The higher operating temperatures (about 20 to about 100 C.) are sometimes used when employing a less f active catalyst such as bismuth chloride or zinc chloride;

The reaction of a menohalo-alkane having at least 3 Carbon atoms per molecule and containing a halogen of at least '35 atomic weight with a halo mono-olefin may be carried out in the presence of a catalyst of the Friedel-Crafts type by using either batch or continuous operation. In batch type treatment, desired proportions of the mentioned mon'ohalo alkane and halomo'no-olefin are introduced to a suitable reactor containing a catalyst of the Friedel-Crafts type, either as such, composited with "a carrier, or dissolved in a solvent; and the resultant commingled materials are contacted until a substantial proportion of the reactants are converted into the desired high molecular weight polyhaloalkane. The reaction mixture after separation from the catalyst is fr'action'ally distilled to separate the unconverted inon'ohalo-alkane and halomono-olefin from higher boiling polyhalo-alk'anes. The mix ture .of recovered monohalo-alkane and halomono-olefin may be used in another run to produce an additional quantity of desired polyhaloalkane.

Continuous operation may be carried out by conducting a mixture of a monohalo-alkane (also spoken of as an alkyl halide) and a halomonoolefin through a reactor of suitable design containinga stationary bed of catalyst of the Friedel- Crafts type. In this type of treatment, the operating conditions may be adjusted suitably, and may differ somewhat from those employed in batch type operation. Thus when a mixtureof an alkyl halide and a polyhalo-olefin is passed, for example, through a tubular reactor containing aluminum chloride, bismuth chloride, ferricchloride, etc. supported by granular porcelain, the formation of the desired higher boiling polyhaloalkanes may be effected by using a higher tem perature and shorter contact time than when contacting a similar mixture and catalyst at a lower temperature in a batch type reactor, such as an autoclave provided with suitable stirring or agitating means.

In some cases it may be advisable to commingle the charged monohaloalkane and halomono-eolefin with a substantially inert solvent such as a paraffinic hydrocarbon, for example, normal pentane, and then to effect condensation in the presence of this added solvent. Obviously the solvent chosen should be one which does not itself undergo undesirable reaction with the other components of the reaction mixture under the operating conditions used.

The following examples are given to illustrate the character and results obtained by the use of specific embodiments of the present process, although the data presented are not introduced with the intention of unduly restricting the generally broad scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE I A mixture of 65 grams of tertiary butyl chloride, 42 grams of vinyl chloride, and grams .of anhydrous bismuth chloride were charged .to a gl-assdined rotatable steel autoclave of 850 cc. capacity to which nitrogen was added to a pressure of v50 atmospheres at room temperature. The autoclave was then rotated and heated at 90 C. for four hours. After the autoclave had cooled to room temperature, the reaction product was removed and separated into 20 gramsof unconverted vinyl chloride,72 grams of liquid product and 8 grams of a reddish brown tar. Distillation of the liquidproduct under 12 mm. pressure removed unconverted tertiary butyl chloride and separated 15 grams of a compound which boiled mainly at '37-39 C. under 12.5 mm. mercury pressure (Mil-150 C. at 750 mm. pressure) had a refractive index of 1.4381 at C., a density of 1.0031 at 20 C., and a melting point between 64 and -62 C. This reaction product was 1,1-dichime-3,3-dimethylbutane.

EXAMPLE II 47 grams of tertiary butyl chloride, 48 grams of 2-chloropropen-e, and 5 grams-of bismuth chloride were charged to the glass-lined autoclave em- Ipioyed in Example I. Nitrogen was then added to the autoclave to give an initial pressure of '50 atmospheres, and the autoclave-was then heated at 50 C. for 4 "hours. After the autoclave had cooled-and the gases had been discharged, there remained diagrams of liquid product and 8 grams of a reddish brown tar containing the used catalyst. Distillation of the liquid product under reduced pressure separated this material into the fractions shown in Table .1.

Team 1 Product from reaction of tertiary butyl chloride with Z-chloropropene in the presence of bismuth chloride err "52" III grams of tertiary .butyl chloride, '50 grams of allyl chloride,.and 5 grams of bismuth chloride were introduced to the glass-lined autoclave employed in Examples I and II, ,placed under 50 atmospheres nitrogen pressureyand rotated and heated at '60" C. for four hours. After the autoclave had cooled to room temperature, 91 grams of liquid product, 8 grams of used catalyst, and-2 grams of condensible gas were removed-therefrom.

Distillation of the liquid product under reduced pressure separated it into fractions with the properties shown in'Tabie 2.

TABLE -2 Product from condensation of tertiary butyl chloride with ally! chloride in the presence of bis muth chloride o Press. B. P. at Vo1., Fraction B. P., 0 760 Cu up The additional tertiary .butyl chloride to .allyl chloride in the presenceof bismuth chloride took place less readily than addition of tertiary butyl chloride tovinyl chloride or to .2 chloropropene. Withthe present reactants, verylittle condensationoccurred at temperatures .below 50 .C. but at 60 C..,, a rather small yield was obtained of a compound boiling. mainly between 42 and 47 C. under 5 mm. mercury pressure (.1'l2178 at 76.0 mm.). The physical properties of this substance indicated that it was a .dichloroheptane.

Good yields of a chlorobromoparafiin were obtained with a mixtureof ter tiary butyl bromide and vinyl chloride was heated with bismuth ,chloride at 5.0 and .65- C. under ,50 atmospheres 11. Below room temperature, reactants precooled to 78 C. before mixing.

A practically quantitative yield of chlorobromohexane was obtained with ferric chloride in Run No. 6 at a temperature considerably belowv room' temperature when the reaction was carried out under atmospheric pressure with a minimum of mixing in a glass-lined cylindrical U reactor. In this run, 80 grams of tertiary butyl bromide was cooled to, 78 C. and grams of ferric chloride were added thereto producing a deep red colored solution. Vinyl chloride was cooled to '78 C. and then gradually poured into the cooled tertiary butyl bromide-ferric chloride mixture. This addition of vinyl chloride caused an immediate reaction so that thereaction mixture had the apperance of boiling. After all of the vinyl chloride had been added, the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and then to stand for 51 hours during which time no gases were evolved. The final product consisted of a clear red upper layer and a wet catalyst powder. Distillation of the upper layer showed that over 85% consisted of a chlorobromohexane which was 1-chlor0-1-bromo-3,3- dimethylbutane. This material may therefore be classed as a dihaloneohexane. The chlorobromo dimethylbutane so obtained boils at 65-67 C. under 25 mm. pressure (Mil-63 at 760 mm.), has a refractive index of 1.4640 at C.. and a density of 1.2638 at 20 C.

Treatment of the compound with aqueous potassium hydroxide at 200 C. in a sealed tube ,yielded an aldehyde boiling at 104-105 C. which was identified as tertiary butyl acetaldehyde. Accordingly, the chlorobromide obtained from reaction of tertiary butyl bromide with vinyl chloride is l-chloro-l-promo-3,3-dimethylbutane.

EXAMPLE V Using the autoclave and procedure employed in Example I, but with ferric chloride as catalyst instead of bismuth chloride, the condensation of tertiary butyl chloride with vinyl chloride proceeded practically quantitatively at -30 C. or at a lower temperature. Thus, from 200 grams of tertiary butyl chloride and 110 grams of vinyl chloride was obtained 277 grams of a washed liquid product which contained 75% by'weight of a compound boiling at 57 C. under mm. pressure or at 148 C. under atmospheric pressure. This yield of liquid product represents 77% of the theoretical yieldotdichlorohexane based upon the vinyl chloride charged.

EXAMPLE VI About 9 grams of a dichloroparaflin boiling chiefly at 183487 '0. was obtained when 50 8 grams of tertiary butyl chloride and 50 grams of methallyl chloride were reacted at C. for 4. hours in the presence of 6 grams of bismuth chloride under an initial pressure of 50 atmospheres. Most of the starting materials were recovered unchanged from the reaction mixture.

EXAMPLE VII 50 grams of tertiary butyl chloride, grams of 2-chloropropene, and 11 grams of titanium tetrachloride were introduced to an autoclave to which nitrogen was added to atmospheres initial pressure and the resultant mixture was rotated and heated for 4 hours at 50 C. After the autoclave had cooled, the reaction product was removed therefrom, washed with caustic soda solution and water, dried and fractionally distilled. The chief products were 2,2-dichloropropane and a saturated compound, probably: a monochloroalkane, boiling at 186 to 188 C. and melting between -36 and 34 C. The desired dichloroheptane, 2,2 dichloro-4,4-dimethy1pentane, was also obtained but in low yield.

The same products were obtained from tertiary butyl chloride and 2-chloropropene at room temperature (27 C.) in the presence of ferric chloride, the chief difierence being that a substantial yield of a dichloroheptane was obtained along with 2,2-dichloropropane and the compound boiling at 186-188 C.

EXAlVIPLE VIII A mixture of 93 grams of tertiary butyl chloride and 76 grams of 2-chloropropene was placed in a large test tube, cooled to -50 C. and then mixed with 2 grams of anhydrous aluminum chloride. The reaction mixture was permitted to warm up spontaneously until the temperature reached -17 C. at which time the catalyst was a reddish orange colored gummy mass. Because of the fact that gas began to be evolved, the mixture was cooled to 25 C. and then permitted to warm to about 12 C. at which evolution of gas occurred. The mixture was then cooled to 20 C. Such intermittent warming andcooling of the reaction mixture was repeated several times during the first 3 to 5 minutes after adding the aluminum chloride, and the temperature was kept between about 8 and +8 C. for 30 minutes more after which the catalyst had the appearance of a red liquid from which the upper layer of reaction products was decanted, washed, and dried. Distillation of the .148 cc. of liquid reaction product separated this material into the fractions shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Product from condensation of tertiary butyl chloride with 2-chloropropene in the presence of aluminum chloride 3 and 4) was 2,2-dichl0ro-4,4-dimethylpentane, a new compound. This structure was shown by ensures hydrolysis to methyl: neopentyl ketone which boiled at 120-124" C., yielding a semicarbazone melting at 176 0., and a H dihitrcprienyniydrazorie melting a t 100 C; in agreement 'withthe values reported in the" literature fur these de'-' rivatives of methyl neopentyl ketone.

Reaction of tertiary butyl chloridewitl'rl chlo rc ropene tock'p1ace more" slowly thali witli other chlo'ro olefins; Thus from about 2 t'o -alciout =5'%* uy weight of dichlorbheptan'e was cldtaineu after; mixtures o'f r-chmropropene' and tertiary butylf clflifiiie were treated fbl iliiiurs aE-SU OI'TQO C; iii the presence of bisniuth chloridel With ferric chloride as Catalyst 251125 (3'; ailll' s'iiiiileir" contact time, the yield (if dichloiolie'fitafie was only about 12%. Better-resu-lts"were obtained the presence of aluminum chloride at low temperatures. catalyst at C; tc'35=granrs=.of a mixture of equal molecular proportions of tertiary butyl chloride and l-chloropropene (also called prop'enyl chloride) gave" about a yield' of di ch'loroheptane after" only 5 minutes reaction time; The dichlorolieptane obtainedboile'd lief tween'73" andfl G. at 22 mmi pressure (115' tol81 C. at 'IGUmmJ; h'adar'efractive' index at* 2'0' C'.' offro'nr 1 .46'0lltb 1 .46271 and af density of- 1103'.

EXAMPLE X Boiling Fraction range, 223" my" 36-128 8Y6 mgr-12a 12 .0 1.4349

The product which boiled at 128-129 C.- was'= 1',1-dichloro-3-methylbutanewhich has been: prepared by previous workers by treating isovaleraldehyde with phosphorus pentacliloride'.

EXAMPLE Xi Reaction of 78 grams'or isopropyl' chloride with 38 grams of vinyl chloride in the presence of 5.- grams of ferric chloride in a rotatable steel auto c'lave' at 25 C. yielded2ll grams-of product boiling at 128-129 C. and having a refractive index of 1.4344 at 20- C.- The-productboiling at l28-- 129 C. was 1,1-dichloro-3-methylbutane. which was also produced as described Ekampl'e X..

Another run was made'similar t'otlibSe refer red t in Examples")! and XI which showed" that the number f carbon atoms in' the monoh'aio-"alkan'e is critical. A mixture orise grams'i of ethyl chloride and er grams of vinyl chlorid'e Thus the addition of 2 grams of this? I dehydrohalog'enation of the. ethyl' chloride.

1% was cooled to -G. and gig ra-rns of aluminum chloride was added thereto. The mixture was aneweu" to warm up" new y Wliile" being" shaken. Ncchan'ge'foccurre'dupto'a'temperature of +3" Cf; at-this "point" tlie mixtu're b'eg'anto boil (vinyl chloride boil's at B" -'CI)' and"themixturewas= therefore s'eald iiitda rotatable steel autbc'lave'; 'I' h'e autfoclz'we.- was'rotated' at room temperature" flirzfliicc ee e then'at 50 c. fer 2"hours. Th'e prtfdtlot' 'con'sistiedmff '7" graln's'of a; de 'epred liquid; 15 grams of catalyst"sludge, and l'l gramsof gas condensed at 78i?C 'I h'erii'aterial condensed at-78f C consistedof a mixture of vinyl chloride andlethyl' chloride? The licuid, product was. weergea arid";d'i'stilled.\ It 'was' sliown tb-co'nsi'st" of 4' gramsof l,1-dichloroethane (B. P. 55 to c0?" 0.) nds er l ,l ,2 trichlorobutane (B. e: of). No" l;l.-diclilorobutane,- i. e.,..the= preauet of" the; condensation of' ethyl chloride- 1 with" vinyl chloride, according. to the. definition.

of" condensation giveri'in the specificatiom. was obtained. 111 dich1orcethanewas formed by the" aea'ijtibn' of hydrogen chloride to. the. vinyli chloride; the hydrogen chloride being formed b The ljlflfti ichlorbbutane was formedlhyi the condemsatiortoftlie 1,1 -dichloroethane with vinyl chloride. The following equationsillustrate theJre actions which occurre'di.

G2H5G1HH2C=CII2+HGT H20:oH'ci tHmemc-cncn f c1 eeace clreme' cnev (infidel-tweet;

The following reaction did not occur.

XIII! A solution of 26 grams of cis-dichloroethylene and 26 grains of tertiarybuty-P chloride, in or ey then treated at-tliat temperatureandat atmos=' pheric pressure with: lig-ramrof anhydrous aluminum chloride. The resultant mixture was then permitted to. warm to about",1(lC.; andthe reaction temperature'was'kept' between 10" and? +1 C; for 1 hour during"whichtimethetchargedf materials and catalyst were mixed intermittently" bysh'aliing'thereactorr Thereactor and its con-- tents: werethen permitted to stand at room temperature for 2- hours' after which the reaction trichlorohexane. was obtained',.but in much lower yield, when transdichloroethylene. was. reacted similarly with tertiary butyl chloride.

1! EXAMPLE XIV" 1,2-dichloro-4,4-dimethylhexane was obtained in 23% of the theoretical yield (based upon the charge, of which about 40% was recovered unchanged) by reacting 100 grams of tertiary amyl chloride and 75 grams of allylchloride at about C. in the presence of 8 grams of substantially anhydrous aluminum chloride. This reaction mixture yielded 40 grams of 1,2-dichloro-4,4-dimethylhexane boiling at 198-200 C.

EXAMPLEXV The reaction of tertiary amyl chloride with 2- ohloropropene at about 10 C. in the presence of aluminum chloride resulted in a 10% yield of 2,2-dichloro-4,4-dimethylhexane as well as a substantial amount of higher boiling product. In this run 105 grams of tertiary amyl chloride, and 75 grams of z-chloropropene reacted in the presence of 7 grams of aluminum chloride and gave 16 grams of the mentioned dichlorooctane.

.Somewhat better results were obtained when ferric chloride was used as catalyst at about 20 C. in that 40 grams of tertiary amyl chloride and 31 grams of 2- chloropropene in the presence of 4 grams of ferric chloride yielded 10 grams of 2,2- dichloro-4A-dimethylhexane boiling at 187-190" C. Also, what appeared tobe 2,2-dichloro-4,4-dimethylpentane was isolated in to yield. The

formation of this latter compound may be explained by assuming that part of the tertiary amyl chloride was converted into tertiary butyl chloride which, being more active than the tertiary amyl chloride, readily condensed with the 2-chloropropene to yield the mentioned dichloroheptane.

EXAMPLE XVI l A 34% yield of 1,2-dibromo-4,4-dimethylhexane was obtained by reacting 75 grams of tertiary amyl bromide and 60 grams of allyl bromide at -30 C. in the presence of 5 grams of substantially anhydrous aluminum chloride. The 45 grams of 1,2-dibromo-4A-dimethylhexane so obtained boiled at 224 C.

EXAMPLE XVII A vigorous reaction occurred when a mixture of 49 grams of tertiary butyl chloride and 59 grams of 1,2-dich1oropropene-2 was contacted with 3' grams of substantially anhydrous aluminum chloride at 10 C. The temperature of the reaction mixture increased rapidly to +10 C. and the reaction was completed in less than 0.5 hour. From this run 60 grams of l,2,2-t richloro-4,4-dimethylpentane was obtained which boiled at 202 0.

EXAMPLE XVIII .40 grams .of.isopr0py1 chloride and 55 grams of 1,2-dich1oropropene-2 upon being reacted at 10 C. in the presencecf 3 grams of substantially anhydrous aluminum chloride yielded 14 grams of a trichlorohexane found to be 1,2,2-trich1oro- 4-methylpentane.

EXAMPLE xx reaction of ethyl chloride and cis-dichloroethylene in the presence of aluminum chloride at 20 C. Instead therewas obtained a 30% yieldcf trichloroethane formed by the addition of hydrogen chloride (from the ethyl chloride) to the dichloroethylene.

Condensation did occur, however, when 25 grams ofv isopropyl chloride and 25 grams of cisdichloroethylene were reacted at 0 to 30 C.v in the presence of 2 grams of aluminum chloride. Trichloropentane boiling at 173-174 C. was thus obtained in 55% of the theoretical yield. In a similar run, 22% of the theoretical yield of trichloropentane was obtained by reacting 31 grams of isopropyl chloride and grams of trans-dichloroethylene in the presence of aluminum chloride.

' EXAIVIPLE XXI A.37% yield of trichloropentane boiling at 174 C; to 175 C. was obtained by reacting grams of normal propyl chloride and grams of dichloroethylene (mainly thecis isomer) at a temperature of 0 to 15 C. in the presence of 6 grams of substantially anhydrous aluminum chloride. The trichloropentane so obtained had the same boiling point and refractive index as did that.

obtained by condensing isopropyl chloride with dichloroethylene. That the two products were identical was confirmed by the fact that their infra-red spectra'were the same.

EXALIPLE XXII I and 1 gram of fresh aluminum chloride was added TABLE 5 1 g. of aluminum chloride added.

7.. 29 Clear, pale orange solution.

0 13... +20 v 14.-." 24 Clear orange. Bubbles of hydrogen chloride 1 evolved. Cooled to 15 0.

l7. 18 19 16 21..." 18 Cooled to 4 0. 24... 18 26 20 Cooled to 0. Sample showed one third of product boiled at 183 0. Added 1 g. fresh aluminum chloride.

No change.

Hydrogen chloride evolved. Cooled to 25 C.

The resultant reaction mixture was maintained at a temperature of 10 to 0 C, for 1 hour more during which hydrogen chloride was evolved gradually in the form of fine bubbles. Then the dark, reddish-brown upperlayer (58 grams) was decanted from the catalyst sludge (5.5 grams) and was washed, dried, and distilled into fractiOns with the properties shown in Table 6.

The reaction mixture was mixed byv assists TABLE 6 Reaction product Obtained from trichlofoe'thylene and isop opyl chloride Redistillation at reduced pressure of 1118 cc. (15.5 grams) of the material contained in the above indicated fractions 4 and (boiling point 47-48 at 4 mm. pressure) separated therefrom 9L4 cc. of 1,1,1,2-tetrachloro-4=methylbutan which boiled at 53-54" C. at 5.0 mm. pressure (BE-186 at 76.0 mm.) and had a refractive index of 1.4860 at 20 C.

Fraction 10f the products shown in the above table on redistillation boiled mainly at 45 C. at mm. (1512 CL at 760 mm.) and consisted of trichl oropente'ne formed by a loss of hydrogen chloride from the tetrachloro-4-methylbutane.-

The foregoing specification and examples illusthe novelty and'iitil i-ty of the present process, although neither sectionis introduced wan-me intention or unduly liri-iiting itsg'enerally broad scope.

I- claim as" my invention:- a

1. A process for producing a polyhalh-alliane which comprises reacting in the presence of a Friede1-Crafts metal halide catalyst a monohaloalkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and containing a halogen of at least atomic weight with a halomono-olefin containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic Weight.

2. A process for producing a dihalo-alkane which comprises condensing a monohalo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic weight with a monohalomono-olefin containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic weight in the presence of a Friedel-C'rafts metal halide catalyst.

3. A process for producing a polyhalo-alkane which comprises condensing a monohalo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic Weight with a polyhalomono-olefin containing halogens of at least 35 atomic weight in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

4. A process for producing a trihalo-alkane which comprises condensing a monohalo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and containin a halogen of at least 35 atomic weight with a dihalomono-olefin containing halogens of at least 35 atomic Weight in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

5. A process for producing a polyhalo-alkane which comprises condensing a monohalo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic weight with a halomono-olefin containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic weight at a temperature of from about -40 to about 100 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

6. A process for producing a dihalo-alkane which comprises condensing a monohalo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule and containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic weight f4 with" a" rrienenarenerimeienn cent-amine ahamg'e'n of at 35 aromieweignt at a temperature or fronf about -'=40 to C.-

the presence (if a Friedel-flraift's' meter halide catalyst.

7-. A pr'dcess for producing apolylfialmalkarie which ceiapris'es condensing a monta e-emcee having at nast- 3 cartona-to'nis per" molecule and centainrng arranges of at least 35 atomic weight with kpolyhflorhoridlfin containin a halogen of at' least35 atom-id weight ata temperatureof from about -40 to about-10W C. in the presence er" a FfridT-(Xafts metal halide Catalyst.

8: A3 access for prodiicin g a trihalo-alkan'e wean comprises emen-sin a mofiohalo-alkane having at-lcast3 carbon atoms per molecule and containing ahal'ogeri of at least 35 atomic weight with d ihaYomol-m-o'lefin containing ahalogen of at feast 3'5 atomicweight at a temperature of trees ab6ut 4( smut 100C; in the resence of a-F i'idel -Cra fts meta-1' halide Catalyst 9. A process for producing a polychloro-alkane which comprises condensing a monochloro-alkane having arteast 3 carbon atoms per molecule with a chl'eror-ri (r-'11. alt-a temperature of from about -40 about 100 C'. inthe presence of a Friedel Crafts metal halide catalyst; f

1 0*. P1 pro'ces'sforprhducing i'polybromo allran' which" arising a metronomealil t 3 earninatohis per m61e+ ta terirperatureor from about 40 to a-bbnii 10 C. in the presence er enera-crafts entertains catalyst:

process for producing spanned-arena comprises coneens he a monoiodo-alkane having crease?- carbonatcrns per' molecule with a ri idddnihhd blfih at temperature of from; about -40 to about 100 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

12. A process for producing a dichloro-alkane which comprises condensing a monochloro-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule with a monochloromono-olefin at a temperature of from about 40 to about 100 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

13. A process for producing a dibromo-alkane which comprises condensing a monobromo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule with a monobromomono-olefin at a temperature of from about 40 to about 100 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

14. A process for producing a di-iodo-alkane which comprises condensing a monoiodo-alkane having at least 3 carbon atoms per molecule with a monoiodomono-olefin at a temperature of from about 40 to about 100 C. in the presence .of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

15. A process for producing a dichloro-alkane having from 5 to 9 carbon atoms per molecule which comprises condensing a mono-chloroalkane having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms per molecule with a monochloromono-olefin having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms per molecule at a temperature of from about 40- to about 100 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst.

16. A process for producing a dichloro-alkane having from 6 to 8 carbon atoms per molecule which comprises condensing tertiary butyl chloride and a monochloromono-olefin having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms per molecule at a temperature of from about -40 to about +40 C. in the presence of aluminum chloride.

1'7. A process for producing 1,1-dichloro-3,3- dimethylbutane which comprises condensing tertiary butyl chloride with vinyl chloride at a the presence of a bismuth chloride catalyst.

18. A process for producing 2,2-dich1oro-4,4- dimethylpentane which comprises condensing tertiary butyl chloride and-,2-ch1oropropene at a temperature of from about '40 to about +40 C. inthe presence of aluminum chloride.

- 19. A process for producing 1,1,2-trichlor-3,3- dimethylbutane which comprises condensing tertiary butyl chloride and cis-dichloroethylene in the presence of aluminum chloricle.

20. A process for producing a polychloro-alkane which comprises reacting a tertiary monochloroalkane with a chloromono-olefin in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst at a temperature of about 20- C. to about +100 C. to form a polychloro-alkane having a molecular weight equal to the sum of the molecular weights of said monochloro-alkane and said chloromonoolefin, and recovering said polychloro-alkane from the resultant products. 21. A process for producing a dichloro-alkane which comprises reacting a tertiary mon0chloro alkane with a monochloromono-olefin in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metal halide catalyst at a temperature of about 20 C. to about +50 C. to form a dichloro-alkane having a molecular weight equal to the sum of the molecular weights of said monochloro-alkane and said monochloromono-olefin, and recovering said dichloro-alkane from the resultant products.

22. A process for producing a polyhalo-alkane which comprises reacting a tertiary monohaloalkane containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic weight with a halomono-olefin containing a halogen of at least 35 atomic weight in the presence Number 16 of a FriedeI-Crafts metal halide catalyst at a temperature of from about C. to about C. to form a polyhalo-alkane having a molecular weight equal to the sum of the molecular weights of said tertiary monohalo-alkane and said halomono-olefin, and recovering said polyhalo-alkane from the resultant products.

LOUIS SCHMERLING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sixt Jan. 26, 1937 Kirkbride Sept. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany July 2, 1913 France Dec. 11, 1930 France Feb. 18, 1938 OTHER REFERENCES Beilstein, Handbuch der Organischer Chemie," vol. I, page -1, 157-8; vol. I, First Supplement, page 58; vol. I, Second Supplement, page 113.

Henne, Jour. Am. Chem. Soc, vol. 60, pages 1697, 2491 (1938).

Simons, fJour. Am. Chem. Soc, vol. 60, pages 2596-7 (1938).

Simons, Jour. Am. Chem. 800., vol. 65, pages 1269-71 (1943).

Simons, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, vol. 32, page 182 (1940).

Number 

